Ibiza: While notoriously expensive, Ibiza shows few signs of losing its reputation as the clubbing capital of the world. The clubs are spectacular in both their size and their gimmickry; DJs and promoters move en masse to Ibiza every year, and they bring the punters with them. The clubs are all in Ibiza Town, San Antonio, or on the road between them. The season runs from May to September, but it's the opening and closing parties that cause the most excitement among the cognoscenti.
Bars
KM5: 5km from Ibiza Town, this garden paradise with sunken sofas is ideal for a pre-club warm-up.
Rock Bar: This busy bar in the heart of Ibiza Town is good for celebrity-spotting.
Jockey Club: The dancefloor of this breezy outdoor daytime bar/club is just a short stagger from the warm Mediterranean Sea.
Clubs
Amnesia: Halfway between Ibiza and San Antonio, Amnesia used to be an open-air venue; these days it's been forced to muffle the sound of thumping bass with walls and a roof. It's best-known for its foam parties, and a dry-ice machine that shoots jets of cold air up through vents in the floor. This year Amnesia plays host to the Liverpool superclub Cream.
Es Paradis: Probably the most famous venue in Ibiza, and it also hosts one of the UK's premier nights, Clockwork Orange. The dance-floor is flooded for the twice-weekly Fiesta del Agua, which people then splash about in, and there's even a hydraulic system that lifts up the roof to let in the early morning sun.
Pacha: Opposite the Marina in Ibiza Town, this is one of the few clubs on the island to keep its doors open all year round. Ministry of Sound are in residency over the summer.
Privilege: This enormous club in Santa Rafael has room for 10,000 people in all - and the Monday-night antics (bad behaviour) when Manumission are in residence, have made it an Ibiza legend.
As well as the British promoters, this year sees an invasion by the Dutch as both Dance Valley and HQ (both clubs in Amsterdam) take up residency on the island for a season of hard house music. Two of California's biggest clubs, Giant and Release, are also planning to make their presence felt this summer.
The afternoon after
If you should happen to gain consciousness during the daylight hours, don't neglect the beauty of the island itself - it's surprisingly easy to find the perfect secluded cove. If you want fire-twirling, nudity and a continuous soundtrack, on the other hand, then head south of Ibiza town for the beaches of Las Salinas and Es Cavallet. Beniras beach in the north of the island has sunset drumming and more of a hippy vibe, while some of the best beach bars can be found along Playa d'en Bossa. You could also try your luck at jet-skiing, water-skiing, banana and ringo rides on San Antonio's beaches. Learning to dive in Ibiza's clear waters is another good way to refresh.
Money matters
Exchange rate: £1 = Pta265.
Club entrance: (prices will vary on the date and popularity) Pta3,000-7,000.
Bottle of beer: Pta600- 2,000.
Ayia Napa: This is not the new Ibiza, but the holiday home of UK garage. Going out here costs a fraction of the price of a night in Ibiza, which means it tends to draw a younger, downmarket crowd. There are a lot of venues to choose from, many of them with new sound systems this year; most are clustered around Seferis Square in the centre of town. All the major clubs are hosting weekly residencies from the biggest garage and house DJs from the beginning of June to the end of September. Keep up to date with Radio Napa 90.9FM.
Bars
Dive Inn: Walls made from fish tanks and a menu which offers more than the ubiquitous chips.
Nissi Bay Café: Squeeze in here for a view of the sunset.
Vibe Bar: Take the opportunity to chill before heading on to the clubs.
Clubs
P'zazz: One of the most popular on the island, it has once again drawn big international promoters such as Cream and Pure Silk for this season.
Abyss: Complete with an open-air chill-out lounge, six bars and a champagne lounge. Abyss hosts nights such as Clockwork Orange and Liberty. Loads of UK garage and a smattering of house.
Black & White: This is the oldest club on the island, and also one of the only to keep its doors open all year round. Smooth soul, swing and R&B dominate the playlists.
Radio One also has a strong presence in Ayia Napa this year, sending DJs including the Dreem Teem for a weekend long party in June.
The afternoon after
Temperatures are high all summer in Cyprus. The best place to cool off is Nissi Beach, which is also the biggest pre- and post-club hangout. There are glorious sunrises at east-facing Pernera Bay, while Fig Tree Beach - a short drive from Napa - is well worth visiting if you want some peace. As for activities, Pavlo Napa Beach has a dizzyingly high bungee-jump crane, and there's a wide range of watersports available at both Nissi Beach and Fig Tree Bay.
Money matters
Exchange rate: £1 = C£0.92.
Club entrance: C£5-7.
Bottle of beer: C£1.
Faliraki: With some of the best beaches on the island, Faliraki is where sun- loving fun-seekers head for. There are two help fully-named streets in Faliraki, Bar Street and Club Street - and that's really all you need to know. Any time from mid-June to mid- September is party time and there's an English-language radio station, Kool FM at 107.5FM, to keep you posted.
Bars
Jimmy's: In the heart of Bar Street's non-stop party zone.
George's Bar: A dazzling array of alcohol makes it possible to reach new levels of hedonism.
Chaplin's Bar: Just a short stagger from the shore and lively both day and night.
Clubs
Millennium: Holds 2,000 people and attracts big name DJs to play house and garage.
Pleasure Rooms: Garage is also well catered for here.
Q Club: Choose between chart-toppers, trance or R&B. You can also witness the spectacle of caged dancers...
The afternoon after
Faliraki has 5km of golden sand. For the sake of variety, however, try nearby Kolymbia Beach, where a restaurant built on the rocks provides fantastic views of the sea and mountains. The water around Rhodes is crystal clear, fantastic for diving, and there are plenty of water-sport centres on Faliraki beach. Turkish baths are also on offer in nearby Rhodes Town.
Money matters
Exchange rate: £1 = Dr530.
Club entrance: £6-15, depending on DJs.
Bottle of beer: Dr1,500.
Kavos: Corfu's clubbing capital gets damn hot in the summer and visitors respond by being most active at night. Booze is cheap and the bars are heaving. Kavos is most lively during June, July, August and early September. Clubs and bars start to close around the third week in September, although the season continues until the end of October.
Bars
Empire Bar: Four cocktails for the price of one - ie some of the cheapest drinks in town.
The Buzz Bar: Morphs into a club as the night wears on.
London Bar: The definitive pre-club bar for UK Garage
Clubs
Future: The biggest and most happening club in Kavos. Regular appearances from Cream and Ministry of Sound DJs.
S'ex: Has a foam party, which can be followed by an early morning visit to the S'ex beach-bar for tunes, bonfires and the sunrise.
Limelight: A big dance floor inside, with two outdoor bars framing a swimming pool.
The afternoon after
Most visitors favour a horizontal position during the day, and the beaches here are stunning. Kavos beach is long, sandy and just a short stumble from the clubs. It can get crowded, though, and both Issos Beach on the south-west coast and Myrtiotissa, near Sinarades town, are well worth the price of a moped for the day.
The mornings are likely to be slept through, but what little day time you have left can be spent bungee-jumping, waterskiing, jetskiing and "cage catapulting". If that doesn't appeal, you can always get on a boat and explore the coastline - or even check out the Roman ruins of Butrint near Corfu Town.
Money matters
Exchange rate: £1 = Dr547.
Club entrance: Mostly free.
Bottle of beer: Dr1,500.
Lloret del Mar: The Costa Brava is a holiday hotspot for good reasons. Sandy beaches stretch 7km either side of Lloret del Mar, and people come here from all over Europe to party. The discotecas are packed throughout the summer and beyond; July and August, the busiest months, are also when the best DJs fly in.
Bars
The Queen Vic: The bars here tend to favour themes and this one, as you might have guessed, is an English pub. Think Albert Square with sun, and react accordingly.
Moby's: Hosts regular karaoke nights.
Hula Hula Bar: South Pacific-themed, with jungle decor and Hawaiian cocktails.
Clubs
Tropics: The most famous club in town has a capacity of 2,000, two dance floors and five bars. Its international DJ line-up tends to favour underground house and garage. www.discotropics.com
St Trop' Disco: In the heart of Lloret, this club has three levels to choose from.
Fame: Chart-toppers are the basic fare; the drinks are incredibly cheap.
The Londoner: Lloret's only hip-hop club, where breakdancing is not unknown.
The afternoon after
The beaches here get very busy in the high season, but then you don't come here to get away from it all. If the people-watching begins to pall, the sandy strip of Santa Cristina (3km to the west) is quieter. There's no quiet time in Lloret itself. The resort has facilities for scuba-diving, parasailing, wind-surfing, water-skiing and jet-skiing, as well as what it claims is the tallest bungee jump in the world, the Tower of Power. Barcelona is a day-trip away.
Money matters
Exchange rate: £1 = Pta270.
Club entrance: Pta0-3,000.
Bottle of beer: Pta150-400.
Malia: The clubbing experience is relatively new here. The town is at its hottest and wildest during the last two weeks of July and first two weeks of August - which is also the most expensive time to go. Late June, early July and late August are all guaranteed party times; families and couples usually outnumber revellers in May and September.
Bars
Pool Bar Crazy: The route to the sea is lined with clubs and bars, but this 80s-style hangout is one of the most likely to distract you on your walk.
Oasis Bar: Quieter music and tastier cocktails make this a good place to start off.
Flares: Where they let loose the 70s tunes; feel free to dress up appropriately.
Clubs
Club UK: This is the place for more serious music appreciation.
Malibu: Another pit-stop for travelling DJs, Malibu comes complete with its own five-a-side football pitch.
Factory: Specialising in Ibiza-style foam parties, this place is messy but free to get in.
Cloud 9: One of Malia's biggest clubs and the best place to go for R&B. www.malia.co.uk/cloud9/
The afternoon after
Malia's main beach is handy both for tanning purposes and for cooling off. Walk east along the sand and you'll probably find a spot to yourself. All the usual water-sport tomfoolery can be found on Malia beach, as well as a hangover-blasting bungee jump. Make sure you try it before you enjoy a fry-up on Beach Road.
Money matters
Exchange rate: £1 =Dr547.
Club entrance: Mostly free.
Bottle of beer: Dr500-1,500.
Kardemena: The biggest party resort on the island of Kos has four main clubs and more than its fair share of bars. July and August are the party months; it's more of a family haven for the rest of the season.
Bars
Greg's: Most of the bars here shut at midnight, but Greg welcomes punters on to his vine-covered terrace well into the night.
Cheers: Right on the beachfront, this bar has DJs playing commercial dance music and serves its famous cocktails until 3am.
Cocomo's: Karaoke and a lethal selection of mind-bending cocktails are on offer at this open-air bar.
Clubs
Status: Known as the best club in Kardemena for its quality house and garage.
Starlight: The biggest club in town has Friday night foam parties and attracts international DJs.
Downtown: This cheesy-but-cheerful club is well air-conditioned and good for a laugh.
Flamingo's: 70s and 80s nights at a venue right in the thick of things.
The afternoon after
Some say that Kardemena has the best beach on Kos, but the beautiful expanse of white sand in Tigani known as Paradise Beach is also well worth a visit. Back in the resort you can occupy yourself with a little jet-skiing or parascending.
Money matters
Exchange rate: £1 = Dr547.
Club entrance: £1-2.
Bottle of beer: Dr1,000.
Magaluf: Ibiza's neighbour and the biggest of the Balearic Islands, Majorca is cultivating a club scene of its own. Much of the island is fairly quiet, but the popular resort-town of Magaluf is packed to bursting with clubs and bars. With 11 hours of sunshine a day between June and August, Magaluf fills up with holidaymakers; the biggest guest DJs usually make their appearances at the same time.
Bars
Alexander's Bar: A great pre-club hang-out, this English-style pub has indie music in one half and underground garage from DJ Crème de la Crème on the other.
Planet Rock: Catering for lovers of, well, rock.
Pacha's Pub: Has a reputation for lethal cocktails.
Clubs
BCM: Billed as the ultimate in nightlife entertainment, BCM has an impressive 10,000 watts of sound. DJs this year include Judge Jules and Seb Fontaine. www.bcm-planetdance.com
Heroes: Blasting cheesy dance anthems throughout the night.
Bananas: The name speaks for itself, and it's house music all night long.
Carwash: A tried and tested formula elsewhere in the Med and back in London: 70s classics and a crowd dressed in platforms and flares.
The afternoon after
The longest and sandiest beach in Majorca is in Magaluf, and not many visitors feel inclined to venture further afield. As a result, space can be scarce down by the sea. If you can clamber from your towel, though, you can always try water-skiing, snorkelling or banana riding at the water sport centre at one end of the beach.
Money matters
Exchange rate: £1 = Pta265.
Club entrance: Free.
Bottle of beer: Pta200-500.
Laganas: Just south of Captain Corelli's Cephallonia lies the island of Zante or Zakynthos. The main resort of Laganas is the proud owner of the longest beach (over 4km) in the Mediterranean. The sand is so pleasant that it is visited each year by rare loggerhead turtles who lay their eggs during July and August. Laganas is also famous for its busy nightlife, concentrated along the main street.
Bars
The Saloon Bar: The music is cheesy, but it stays open late enough for the ouzo to make it bearable.
Las Palmas: Off the main drag, and so good for those in search of a quieter drink.
Waikiki: Right on the beach.
Clubs
Rescue Bar: Supposedly the biggest club outside Athens, but it tends to stick to the latest chart hits.
Zero's: Perfect for garage lovers. Visitors also get to stroll its walkover bridge and balcony for a bird's-eye view of the crowd.
Cherry Bay Beach Club: Situated right on the beach, so be prepared for Baywatch-style bikini action. The music is samba mixed by the DJ who selects his tunes from a speedboat, while the bar staff wear wetsuits.
Ocean Inn: Resounds to the sounds of uplifting trance and house music. Laser shows, exotic cocktails and a garden chill-out area make this a popular nightspot.
The afternoon after
The turtle nesting areas of Laganas beach are protected and motor boats are banned throughout July and August. This still leaves plenty of sand on which to spread yourself, so walk and find a quiet spot if you can. To enjoy the thrills of being flung around behind a high-speed boat, the watersport centre in St Nicks (Agios Nikolas) is just a short boat ride from Laganas. You can ride the banana and the ringos, water-ski, jet-ski and test your stomach and sanity with a bungee-jump.
Money matters
Exchange rate: £1 = Dr547.
Club entrance: Free.
Bottle of beer: Dr700.
Bodrum: Stepping into the fray to compete for the affections of young clubbers, the medieval town of Bodrum has an impressive array of nightclubs attracting some quality DJs and promoters. It's also very cheap. The ancient city has a magnificent castle, a palm-lined marina filled with elegant yachts, and superb reef-diving not far from the town. Recently, though, the nightclubs have been making waves as well.
Bars
Temple: Get yourself in the party mood with a mix of Turkish and European pop at the buzzing Temple on Bodrum's Bar Street.
Red Lion: This intimate English-style pub offers spectacular sea views.
Robin Hood: Just off Bar Street, this has long been a favourite with Bodrum regulars.
Clubs
M&M Dancing: The clubs in Bodrum are impressive. M&M is the biggest and offers al fresco dancing as well as the opportunity to take a trip on the club's private glass-bottomed catamaran. A state-of-the-art sound system pumps out house, deep trance and garage.
Halikarnas: This is Europe's largest open-air disco, and not to be missed. Set among pillars and palm trees, the amphitheatre has lasers, a 25m-high fountain and spectacular views over the city. World class DJs and local Turkish talent spin hard house, garage and techno.
The afternoon after
Any cure for a hangover acquired drinking the local raki needs to be foolproof if you're going to be up for a spot of haggling in the bazaar. The options include expelling the toxins in a hamman (Turkish bath), or heading for the beach. Bodrum beach is on the small side, but neighbouring Gumbet has more than its fair share of sand.
Money matters
Exchange rate: £1 = TL1.5 million.
Club entrance: TL14.4m.
Bottle of beer: TL1.8m.
Playa del Ingles: OK, so the name's a giveaway. The endless sunshine draws countless Brits to the largest holiday resort in Europe after Benidorm. Playa del Ingles draws a party crowd to this part of the Canary Islands all year round, but during the summer months the nightlife areas around the Kasbah and the gay-friendly Yumbo Centre are at their most intense.
Bars
Fantasy Island: A laid-back drinking hole perfect for beginning a night of bar-hopping.
Hippodrome: Quality dance bar with some of the best local DJs.
Havana's: Known for its dance and salsa mix, Havana's attracts a trendy, cosmopolitan crowd.
Pacha: Where the beautiful people come out to play.
The Irish Centre: A jumble of buildings close to the beach with a relaxed atmosphere, live music and happy hours.
Clubs
Joy: A night here involves being squeezed on a heaving dance floor with a crazy crowd.
Cream: When most of the clubs close (at around 3am), everyone heads for Cream where the UK's biggest DJs keep it grooving till sunrise.
The afternoon after
Gran Canaria, a duty-free island, is a shopper's paradise with bargains to be had. The Yumbo Commercial Centre has a good selection of shops, and there are also weekly markets. If the exercise gets the better of you, make for the beach but be prepared - the water is a one-mile walk across sand dunes from the resort. The sand here is golden and there's plenty of it, so you won't be fighting for space even in peak season. There are nudist and gay areas as well, so take your pick. You can also take advantage of the many watersports on offer. The Canary Islands are known for their high winds, which make for perfect windsurfing conditions.
Money matters
Exchange rate: £1 = Pta265.
Club entrance: Pta2,000.
Bottle of beer: Pta200-500.
Ways to go
* Go (www.go-fly.co.uk) has regular flights to Ibiza and the Spotlight Ibiza website, www.ibiza-spotlight.com/travel/index.html, has good links to find cheap deals.
* www.globaldirections.co.uk is another good site for cheap flights all round the Med, including Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife & Fuerteventura (they operate online only).
* Clubber's Guide Holidays c/o Ministry of Sound and Cosmos (0800 0159551) www.ministryofsound.com/ travel
* Escapades Holidays c/o Airtours (0800 028 4993, www.airtours.co.uk
* Club Freestyle c/o Thomson Holidays (08705 133833, www.thomson-holidays.com
* Club 18-30 c/o Thomas Cook (08705 666 222, www.thomascook.com).
